Mendeley  

Zotero  

Zahedi Asl J, Shabany M, Tavana S, Zohrabi H. Training Healthcare Personnel in Bioterrorism in Iran: A Scoping Review. Health in Emergencies and Disasters Quarterly 2026; 11 (4) :291-302
URL: http://hdq.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-730-fa.html

Background: Bioterrorism, with a high fatality rate, poses a serious threat to public health. This scoping review aimed to examine the types of bioterrorism training for healthcare personnel in Iran, assess their awareness and preparedness levels, and identify educational gaps to inform strategies to strengthen national preparedness.
Materials and Methods: A scoping review was conducted by searching national and international databases in both Persian and English, including SID, Magiran, IranDoc, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, for studies published between 2014 and 2025. The review process was guided by the five-stage framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005).
Results: Twenty-one relevant articles were identified and categorized into three groups: experimental and quasi-experimental studies (n=10), descriptive and cross-sectional studies (n=7), and review studies (n=4). Experimental studies highlighted three training approaches: experiential learning, traditional learning, and e-learning. Descriptive studies showed low awareness and preparedness among healthcare personnel, while review studies emphasized the role of training in enhancing readiness.
Conclusion: Simulated training, practical exercises, and scenario-based workshops effectively improved preparedness. Policymakers should integrate training, enhance collaboration, and develop monitoring systems. Strengthening bioterrorism training and preparedness supports healthcare resilience and contributes to national security.